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Today in West Hawaii history | July 29

Editor’s note: This list of notable headlines from West Hawaii Today throughout the years is compiled from West Hawaii Today archives. It includes historical notes from 10, 20 and 30 years ago. "Today in West Hawaii history" is a daily feature of West Hawaii Today and is available only online at westhawaiitoday.com.

West Hawaii Today

July 29, 1984: Glowing fountains of molten rock cascade 1,000 feet into the sky above the Big Island as Kilauea volcano entered a new phase of its long-running eruption. Lava began cascading from an isolated vent on the volcano’s eastern slope shortly after after noon on July 27 reaching heights of 1,000 feet before declining to a steady 500 feet.

July 29, 1994: The weakening U.S. dollar and high prices in Japan are having a positive effect on the Big Island’s tourism industry. Japan Travel Bureau, one of Japan’s biggest tour companies, is bringing 140 percent more Japanese tourists to the Big Island this year than last year, says JTB Big Island Manager Kazuko Matsumoto. She said in July 1993, JTB brought 500 people to the Big Island on package tours and 200 on group tours. Next month, 880 Japanese will be coming to the island on package tours and 420 on group tours.

July 29, 2004: The Kohala Coast Resort Association wants the Environmental Protection Agency to stop the transportation of contaminated soil from Hilo Bayfront to the Puuanahulu landfill. The practice is not only “bad social and economic policy,” but also illegal, Honolulu attorney Bruce Voss said in a July 21 letter to Mayor Harry Kim. Voss represents the resort association.

Funding for the proposed Alii Parkway may be in jeopardy but Mayor Harry Kim said his administration will still support the highway’s construction. However, Kim said the county will follow the laws despite urging by some in Kona to quietly ignore native Hawaiian remains so that the roadway can be built for the sake of the majority.